“Kaplan’s injury occurred June 19, while she was traveling back to San Francisco after cycling in the North Bay. While navigating the crowds, she noticed a woman with a camera crossing the sidewalk, unaware of her surroundings. Kaplan swerved to avoid the woman, forcing her to crash into the guardrail and land violently on the ground. “I was actually moving very slow,” said Kaplan, 27.”

Leaving that aside, I’m at a loss as to why the GGBH&T didn’t attempt something like this paintjob like two months ago. (Was it raining every day back then? Maybe, I forget, srsly.)

Having said that, I don’t know what I would have done, you know, if I could have stood in the expensive shoes of the unelected politicians what run the bridge, you know, to lower the expectations of nutso roadies and other cyclists who expect to “make time” on the sidewalks of the GGB at 20 MPH+ regardless of any refurbishment activity or anything else in the world.

So:

Fixing up the GGB – YAY!

The crazy-ass system of how the bridge and transpo district is governed, that unintended accident of history – BOO!

Thank you for your comments regarding the current Seismic Retrofit construction being undertaken on the Golden Gate Bridge west sidewalk that is requiring all Golden Gate Bridge visitors to be sharing the east sidewalk for a temporary period of just four months, through September 2011.

We wanted to share some additional information and give you an update on several things as follows:

1) After three meetings held in May and June with sidewalk stakeholders including the Marin and SF Bicycle Coalitions as well as the bike rental companies, we are right now preparing to add striping and associated signage to the East Sidewalk to assist in better separating the cyclists and the pedestrians. The stripping and signage were agreed upon by the stakeholders. We have ordered the needed materials. We will perform this work at night as soon as the materials arrive and the weather cooperates.

2) We are also adding some “sandwich board” signs at locations leading to the East Sidewalk to assist in preparing all visitors to be cautious on the East Sidewalk.

3) We want to be reemphasize the West Sidewalk closure is a part of the critical Seismic Retrofit construction work that is occurring now on the Marin anchorage housing. This work being undertaken to allow the Bridge to remain standing during a nearby 8.3 Richter magnitude earthquake. This portion of the Seismic Retrofit Construction project began in April 2008 and retrofits the massive Marin anchorage housing and associated pylon N1. The 4-month-long temporary closure of the West Sidewalk is required as the roof of the Marin anchorage housing, of which both the East and West sidewalks are a part, has to be replaced. The timing for the work on the West Sidewalk is not ideal, but it was set in accordance with the contractors work flow and delaying this work was not an option. The retrofit construction project has been underway since late 1997, with little to no impact to our customers, and we ask for your continued patience.

4) We would also note that, according to SF Travel, the City of San Francisco has seen an increase of visitors from a daily average of 1,200 visitors in June 2011 to an average of 2,400 visitors just last week! People love to visit and experience this Bridge.

5) The Golden Gate Bridge is an international icon visited by at least 10 million people a year. We all must remember to share our beloved Bridge with visitors that come from around the globe to experience what we get to experience every day.

Thanks for your understanding during this critical construction project. AND, finally, there is ONE EVENT with a permit this weekend to be aware of: Sunday, July 17, Tri Cali Alcatraz Challenge Aquathon. Event time is 8 am to 12 noon when up to 600 runners will cross the EAST SIDEWALK heading north and turn around at Vista Point and return on the EAST SIDEWALK headed south. Learn more about permitted events that are scheduled here: http://goldengate.org/news/bridge/Construction-Alerts.php